Luke 20:27-40 The God Of The Living; My God

Luke 20:27-40 NIV
He is the God of the living; "the god of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the god of Jacob;" my God.

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection so they tried to trick Jesus into backing them up with the question about who would be married to whom in the resurrection. They failed in their pursuit in trying to get him to deny the resurrection. The resurrection is not about temporal things. It is not about being united or reunited with our spouses. It is about brothers and sisters in Christ being reconciled to God our Father. Being united with God is what life in the Kingdom is all about. Could there possibly be any greater joy than attending the marriage feast of the Lamb?

Even as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob live, so shall all who believe in Him. We shall live in the Kingdom, even as we die to this world. He is the God of the living. Because He lives so shall we.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 12:18-27 - No Marriage In Life After Death

Mark 12:18-27 NIV

Well, here is one tradition that I am glad we do not following: the widow marrying her late husband's brother! My brothers-in-law probably would not appreciate it, either. Not that I don't love them; not that I don't love my husband; but, here in my latter years, I have come to know a love greater than any love that is possible within the hearts of man or woman. It is the unconditional love of God for his children. It is the love of God for His bride, which is the church (all God's people). Isaiah (54:5 NIV) tells us:
"For your Maker is your husband—
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
    he is called the God of all the earth."

The Sadducees were concerned about this world and wanted to dispel any notion of eternal life. They wanted to trip Jesus up regarding whether there would be a resurrection or not with a question about marriage after death. Of course, the Sadducees thought that when you're dead, you're dead. Jesus tells them that they are wrong on both counts. There will be no marriages between man and woman in the Kingdom and that there definitely is life after death. He tells them: "Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!” (Mark 12:26-27) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had been long gone at the time of Moses. Yet, God affirms that He is their God. The dead cannot love or worship anyone. Yet the great "I AM" is their God; therefore, they must be living. Makes absolute sense to me....

God's Peace - Pr. J

Daniel 6 - Tell Every Nation

The book of Daniel is just full of familiar stories - stories taught to our Sunday School youth. In this chapter, Darius the Mede is ruling. The administrators and satraps play to his ego and get him to issue and edict that calls for everyone in the kingdom to pray to no one but King Darius. They cannot pray to anyone or anything else or they will be thrown into the lion's den. Apparently, Darius' ego over-ruled any common sense because Darius signed the edict.

Of course those who coerced Darius into signing this edict had an ulterior motive. They were jealous of Darius and wanted him gone. They caught Daniel praying, who they had known would not stop praying to his God, and turned him in to Darius. Darius had no choice but to keep his word and lock Daniel in the lions' den. Apparently King Darius had at least a little faith in the God that Daniel prayed to. He told Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (vs 16 NIV)
Darius was so anxious that he did not sleep all night.

"At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

"Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”  (vs 19-22)

The king threw the men who had plotted against Daniel, along with their families, into the lions' den.

"Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!

“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

“For he is the living God
    and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.
He rescues and he saves;
    he performs signs and wonders
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel    from the power of the lions.” (vs 25-27)

The king had seen the miracle that the living God had done in saving Daniel and not only did he decree that everyone in his kingdom should reverence the God of Daniel, the living, eternal God; but, he wrote to all the nations proclaiming God's power and mighty deeds.

Now, here is one who has no birthright to the kingdom of God. But, he sees. He knows. He reverences the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And... this King Darius is an evangelist! He wrote to all the nations! What about us? Have we told even our neighbors, our family, about this God, who is above all things; whose Kingdom will never be destroyed; nor will His dominion every end? This is the God who rescues and saves! Have you told anyone this - so that they too might believe and be saved?

Go into all the world... proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

There Is Only One God

Genesis 32

Golden calves - something I have preached about extensively.  How often I have  preached about false gods; yet, it seems sometimes like it falls on deaf ears.  Just recently delivered from slavery by God and the people are busy creating their own - another god.  Moses is up on the mountain.  They can't see him.  They want a god they can see.  So in Moses' absence with the help of Aaron, the people build themselves a false god.  Had they looked to Moses as their god?  Had they been worshipping their leader Moses all along?  Moses is not their god.  He is only an instrument God uses to save the decendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. 

Interesting verse I hadn't noticed before:  The LORD tells Moses, "Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation." (vs. 10, NRSV) Does Moses say "Yes! God is going to destroy those who do not know him and make ME a great nation!"  No, he doesn't.  Moses reminds God of his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.  Moses does not succumb to the temptation to put himself before the people.  Moses will not make of himself, his own false god.  He is a servant.  He is not a god.

I'm thinking about how often people will attend a congregation or special services because they are enamored by the pastor.  Sometimes when a new pastor comes, their ministry is sabotaged by the people comparing him/her to the last pastor.  Or maybe they just leave the church because this new pastor is not quite as charismatic or friendly or charming as the last.  Remember, what a poor speaker Moses was?  Why did the people follow him out of Egypt anyway?  Was it because of the miracles they saw or was it a mob effect that caused them to travel out into the dessert?  Then once Moses was out of their site, they were looking to make themselves a god they could worship.  Really, deep down, had these Israelites been worshipping Moses all along?  Did they really ever have a clue who God really was?

The fact remains is that we are not so unlike those Israelites.  We need to be careful that the shepherd whom God has appointed to care for the flock has not been exalted to the point of being a false god.  We need to be careful that we haven't lifted ourselves up to the point of being our own gods.    There is only one God and we are not Him!

Note:  Sorry - just can't cover everything in this brief blog.  Last chapter - Moses received the 10 commandements on the tablet.  This chapter he broke them in anger.